1998 TOYOTA TERCEL maintenance

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Parts and tools
Here is a list of parts and tools you will
need on performing do- it- yourself mainte-
nance. Remember all Toyota parts are de-
signed in metric sizes, so your tools must
be metric.
Checking the engine oil level
Parts (if level is low):
Engine oil API grade SH,
ºEnergy- Conserving IIº or SJ,
Energy- Conservingº multigrade or
ILSAC multigrade having viscosity
proper for your climate
Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding oil)
Checking the engine coolant level
Parts (if level is low): Ethylene- glycol antifreeze
Demineralized or distilled water
Tools: Funnel (only for adding coolant)
Checking brake fluid
Parts (if level is low):
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
brake fluid Tools:
Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking power steering fluid
Parts (if level is low): Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON II
or III
Tools: Rag or paper towel
Funnel (only for adding fluid)
Checking battery condition
Non- maintenance batteries±
Tools: Warm water
Baking soda
Grease
Conventional wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Maintenance type batteries±
Parts (if level is low): Distilled water Tools:
Warm water
Baking soda
Grease
Conventional wrench (for terminal
clamp bolts)
Coin (for vent plugs)
Funnel (only for adding dist illed water)
Checking and replacing fuses
Parts (if replacement is necessary): Fuse with same amperage rating as
original
Tools:
Conventional wrench (for instrument
lower panel nut)
Adding washer fluid
Parts: Water
Washer fluid containing antifreeze
(for winter use)

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Part 7
DO- IT- YOURSELF
MAINTENANCE±
Chapter 7- 2
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level
Checking the engine coolant level
Checking brake fluid
Checking power steering fluid
Checking tire pressure
Checking and replacing tires
Rotating tires
Installing snow tires and chains
Replacing wheels
Checking the engine oil level
Low level Full level
Add oil O.K. Too full
With the engine at operating tempera-
ture and turned off, check the oil level
on the dipstick. 1. To get a true reading, the vehicle should be on a level spot. After turning
off the engine, wait a few minutes for
the oil to drain back into the bottom of
the engine.
2. Pull out the dipstick, and wipe it clean with a rag.
3. Reinsert the dipstick±push it in as far as it will go, or the reading will not be
correct.
4. Pull the dipstick out and look at the oil level on the end. If the oil level is below or only slightly
above the low level, add engine oil of
the same type as already in the engine.
Remove the oil filler cap and add engine
oil in small quantities at a time, checking
the dipstick.
The approximate quantity of oil needed to
fill between the low level and the full level
on the dipstick is indicated below for ref-
erence.
When the level reaches within the correct
range, install the f
iller cap hand- tight.
Oil quantity, L (qt., lmp. qt.):
1.3 (1.4, 1.1)
NOTICE
Avoid overfilling, or the enginecould be damaged.
Check the oil level on the dipstickonce again after adding the oil.

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Part 7
DO- IT- YOURSELF
MAINTENANCE Ð
Chapter 7- 3
Electrical components
Checking battery condition
Battery recharging precautions
Checking and replacing fuses
Adding washer fluid
Replacing light bulbs
CAUTION
BATTERY PRECAUTIONS
The battery produces flammable and
explosive hydrogen gas.
Do not cause a spark from the bat-
tery with tools.
Do not smoke or light a match near
the battery.
The electrolyte contains poisonous
and corrosive sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with eyes, skin or
clothes.
Never ingest electrolyte.
Wear protective safety glasses when
working near the battery.
Keep children away from the bat-
tery.
EMERGENCY MEASURES If electrolyte gets in your eyes,
flush your eyes with clean water
immediately and get immediate
medical attention. If possible, con-
tinue to apply water with a sponge
or cloth while en route to the medi-
cal office.
If electrolyte gets on your skin,
thoroughly wash the contact area. If
you feel pain or burning, get medi-
cal attention immediately.
If electrolyte gets on your clothes,
there is a possibility of its soaking
through to your skin, so immediate-
ly take off the exposed clothing and
follow the procedure above, if nec-
essary.
If you happen to swallow electro-
lyte, drink a large quantity of water
or milk. Follow with milk of magne-
sia, beaten raw egg or vegetable
oil. Then go immediately for emer-
gency help.
Checking battery c onditionÐ
ÐPrecautions

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ÐChecking battery exterior
Terminals
Hold- down
clamp
Ground cable
Check the battery for corroded or loose
terminal connections, cracks, or loose
hold- down clamp.
a. If the battery is corroded, wash it off
with a solution of warm water and baking
soda. Coat the outside of the terminals
with grease to prevent further corrosion.
b. If the terminal connections are loose,
tighten their clamp nuts±but do not over-
tighten.
c. Tighten the hold- down clamp only
enough to keep the battery firmly in place.
Overtightening may damage the battery
case.
NOTICE
Be sure the engine and all accesso- ries are off before performing main-tenance.
When checking the battery, remove
the ground cable from the negativeterminal (º- º mark) first and rein-stall it last.
Be careful not to cause a short cir- cuit with tools.
Take care no solution gets into thebattery when washing it.
ÐChecking battery fluid
There are two types of batteries:
maintenance type and non- maintenance
type.
A non- maintenance battery has
ºMAINTENANCE FREE BATTERYº on its
top. A maintenance type battery does not
have such indication.
Maintenance type batteryÐ
Check the fluid condition by the fluid level
lines on the side of the battery.
Non- maintenance batteryÐ
Check the battery condition by the
hydrometer on the top of the battery.

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Upper line
Lower line
CHECKING BY THE FLUID LEVEL LINES
(MAINTENANCE TYPE BATTERY ONLY)
The fluid (electrolyte) level must be be-
tween the upper and lower lines.
When checking the fluid level, look at all
six cells, not just one or two.
If the level is lower than the lower line,
add distilled water. (See
º ADDING DIS-
TILLED WATERº.)
Type A
Type B Green Dark
Clear or light yellow
Blue White Red
CHECKING BY THE HYDROMETER
(NON- MAINTENANCE BATTERY ONLY)
Check the battery condition by the
hydrometer color. Hydrometer color
ConditionTy p e ATy p e BCondition
GREENBLUEGood
DARKWHITECharging necessary. Have
battery checked by your
Toyota dealer.
CLEAR orLIGHT
YELLOWREDHave battery checked by
your Toyota dealer.
Low O.K
ADDING DISTILLED WATER
(MAINTENANCE TYPE BATTERY ONLY) 1. Remove the vent plugs.
2. Add distilled water to cells n eeding
fluid.
If the side of your battery is covered,
check the water level by looking down
directly above the cell as illustrated
above.
3. Retighten the vent plugs securely.

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NOTICE
Do not overfill the cells. Excess elec- trolyte could squirt out of the batteryduring heavy charging, causing corro-sion or damage.
Battery recharging precautions
During recharging, the battery is pro-
ducing hydrogen gas.
Therefore, before recharging:
1. Maintenance type batteriesÐRemove the vent plugs.
2. If recharging with the battery installed on the vehicle, be sure to disconnect
the ground cable.
3. Be sure the power switch on the re- charger is off when connecting the
charger cables to the battery and when
disconnecting them.
CAUTION
Always charge the battery in an un-
confined area. Do not charge the
battery in a garage or closed room
where there is not sufficient ventila-
tion.
Non- maintenance batteries: Only do
a slow charge (5A or less). Charg-
ing at a quicker rate is dangerous.
The battery may explode, causing
personal injuries.
Maintenance type batteries: Be sure
to remove the vent plugs before re-
charging.
NOTICE
Never recharge the battery while the
engine is running. Also, be sure allaccessories are turned off.

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BATTERY

Maintenance type battery
Specific gravity reading at 20 C(68 F):
1.250Ð1.290 Fully charged
1.160Ð1.200 Half charged
1.060Ð1.100 Discharged

Non−maintenance battery Open voltage *
at 20 C (68 F):
12.6 VÐ12.8 V Fully charged
12.2 VÐ12.4 V Half charged
11.8 VÐ12.0 V Discharged
* : Voltage that is checked 20 minutes after
the key is removed with all the lights
turned off
Charging rates: Non−maintenance battery 5 A max .
Maintenance type battery
Quick charge 15 A max.
Slow charge 5 A max.
CLUTCH
Pedal freeplay, mm (in.): 5Ð15 (0.2Ð0.6)
Fluid type: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3 MANUAL TRANSAXLE
Oil capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.):
1.9 (2.0, 1.7)
Oil type: Gear oil API GL- 4 or GL- 5
Recommended oil viscosity: SAE 75W- 90
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
3- speed type automatic transmission Automatic transmission Fluid capacity (drain and ref ill),
L (qt., Imp. qt.):
Up to 2.5 (2.6, 2.2)
Diffarencial Fluid capacity, L (qt., Imp. qt.): 1.4 (1.5, 1.2)
4- speed type automatic transmission Fluid capacity (drain and ref ill),
L (qt., Imp. qt.): Up to 3.1 (3.3, 2.7)
Fluid type: Automatic transmission fluid D- II or DEXRON III (DEXRON II) BRAKES
Minimum pedal clearance when depressed
with the pressure of 490 N (50 kgf, 110 lbf)
with the engine running, mm (in.):
With anti- lock brake system 55 (2.2)
Without anti- lock brake system
60 (2.4)
Pedal freeplay, mm (in.): 1Ð6 (0.04Ð0.24)
Pad wear limit, in. (mm): 1.0 (0.04)
Lining wear limit, in. (mm): 1.0 (0.04)
Parking brake adjustment when pulled with
the force of 196 N (20 kgf, 44 lbf): 5Ð8 clicks
Fluid type: SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 3
STEERING
Wheel freeplay: Less than 30 mm (1.2 in.)
Power steering fluid type: Automatic transmission fluid DEXRON II or III